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Friday, January 30, 2015

Dear Readers, I've loved reading Elizabeth Camden's novels, so when this one arrived, I started reading it right away. Her characters are very three-dimensional, and they have flaws that draw me into their lives. These did especially, because I love reading about historical Washington, DC, and I'm very interested in the Library of Congress. The book truly was page-turner, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading the book. You won't want to miss this one.

BIO: Elizabeth
Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted
RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic
publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing
fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write
inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her
husband near Orlando, Florida.

Tell us a little
about your family.

I got married pretty late in life, which was a mixed
blessing. I know what it is to be lonely, but my life as a single woman taught
me to become a strong person capable of taking care of myself. Perhaps most
importantly, I will never take my husband for granted! Bill and I have been
married for fourteen years, and I give thanks for him every day. We don’t have
children of our own, but I was a custodial stepmom for the first five years of
our marriage. The girls are now grown and out of the nest, so it’s just Bill
and me. Life is good!

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

I am attracted to the late 19th and early 20th century. This
is simply a fascinating era for me: it has the glamor and romance of an earlier
time, but modern technology and attitudes were beginning to take root. The kind
of highly skilled, professional heroines I write about would be harder to fit
in to earlier eras.

I especially like WashingtonD.C. for a setting because there
were so many opportunities for professional women, beginning with the Civil War
and up until the present. The federal government has always been very open to
hiring women, so this is a great setting for me. My last book (With Every Breath) featured a woman
working in a government research trial dealing with tuberculosis in the 1890’s.
My current novel (Beyond All Dreams) features a heroine working at the Library of
Congress. I hope to write many more novels set in Washington, simply because it is so rich
with possibilities.

What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I didn’t have a deep appreciation for how important it is to
get geographical details correct. My first novel was set in 19th century
Baltimore, and I really didn’t know all that much about the area. I did enough
research to get the street names and the local industries correct, but beyond
that? Baltimore
was merely a backdrop. My publisher picked a name for the novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill, which really
shone a spotlight on the Baltimore
suburb where most of the novel is set, but it wasn’t particularly imbued with
details of life in Bolton Hill. Oh boy! Before the novel was even released, I
was getting email from folks in Bolton Hill excited about the release. It was
profiled on a ton of Baltimore-area blogs. I felt pretty bad about the folks
who were buying the novel hoping for a great novel about their neighborhood.
Hey, I still love that novel, but I wish the title hadn’t given some people the
wrong impression.

I’ve never made that mistake again. I am very proud of the
research I do into the cities where I set my novels, down to the cuisine,
ethnic character, the climate, flora and fauna, and the personality of the
place. My novel Into the Whirlwind
was practically a love letter to the city of Chicago. I now routinely get email from folks
in the cities I write about complimenting me on “getting things right.”

What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the simplest of
biblical verses can contain the most profound, universal truths? Lately the
phrase that has been resonating with me is 1 Peter 4:8. Above all, love one another deeply. If I were the type of person to
get a tattoo, this is the phrase I would use! It is beautiful in its
simplicity, yet so powerful and all-encompassing in its message. I see too many
people who are willing to extend compassion or charity only to those they deem
worthy. There is also a tendency to demonize those from the opposite side of
their political viewpoint.

It is difficult to watch the news these days that is filled
with so much political turmoil, racial incidents that spiral out of control,
wife abuse, etc. Above all, love one another! This does not mean you must
approve of the actions, but anger and demonizing the opposition has not been
working too well in solving the incidents I am referring to. Step back, take a
breath, and try to understand the other side. They may be wrong. In many cases,
they certainly are … but it is hard to truly solve these problems without
trying to understand our fellow man.

Tell us about Beyond All Dreams.

The novel is about a librarian who stumbles across a
baffling mystery of a ship that disappeared at sea. The ship and the entire
crew has never been heard from again, but Anna begins to suspect the government
knows what actually happened to the ship. The setting is at the Library of
Congress in 1898, and when the government stonewalls her attempt to learn more
about the missing ship, Anna turns to a charismatic congressman for help. As
the two of them begin piecing the mystery together, they become embroiled in
secrets much bigger than they ever imagined.

Travel back in time to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress in Elizabeth Camden's newest release, Beyond All Dreams. From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?

Elizabeth is celebrating the release of Beyond All Dreams with a Kindle giveaway and Facebook party on February 17.

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers will love it as much as I did.Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Beyond All Dreams - Christianbook.comBeyond All Dreams - AmazonBeyond All Dreams - Kindle

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Thursday, January 29, 2015

BIO: Kathryn
Springer, winner of the 2009 ACFW Carol Award (Family
Treasures), grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a
weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s
typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her
a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her
own. Encouraging women in their faith journey is the reason Kathryn loves to
write inspirational fiction. When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her
sitting in the sun with a cup of coffee and a good book or walking the trails
near her country home.

Welcome, Kathryn. Tell us how much of yourself
you write into your characters.

I would
have to say it depends on the character ... and what they’re going through
during the story! I attended a workshop where the presenter urged us to “do the
hard work” when it comes to our characters. To me, that doesn’t just mean
knowing my characters’ goals and motivations or their backstory. It means that
I take some risks, too. I can’t be afraid to wade into the deep emotional
waters that I send my characters into!

What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

When I was
speaking at a women’s Advent luncheon a few years ago, I stepped away from the
microphone and broke into a little dance. For some people, this might not
qualify as quirky, but I’m an introvert and I still can’t believe I actually
did that. At least I wasn’t wearing heels at the time because I probably would
have ended up in the lap of a person sitting in the front row!

When did you first discover you were a writer?

I loved
Marguerite Henry’s books when I was a little girl, and I begged my parents for
a horse. We lived in town, though, so there was nowhere to put one (although I
think I suggested my brother’s room!) Because I couldn’t have a horse of my
own, I wrote a “book” about one. And, of course, I was the heroine! I think
that’s when I discovered that I liked to create stories as much as I liked to
read them.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you
enjoy reading.

Even
writing six or seven hours a day, I manage to find time to read! It’s funny, I
write contemporary romance but I absolutely love historical fiction, especially
the ones set in the old west (yes, I’m talking cowboys). I’m also a big fan of
romantic suspense. For non-fiction, I have to admit I am reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp for
about the fourth or fifth time.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run
world?

There are
times I’m busier than others, but I try hard not to load too much onto my plate
... and I’m a total homebody. It probably helps that I live in the country, ten
miles from my friends ... and restaurants ... and bookstores!

How do you choose your characters’ names?

This is
going to sound like one of those weird “writer” things, but most of the time my
main characters tell me their names. It’s true—they introduce themselves to me!
Sometimes I don’t particularly like the name, either, but I have no choice—that’s
their name! I also keep a book of baby names on my desk and sometimes I’ll
choose a name based on its meaning if it matches a particularly trait or
quality the character has.

What is the accomplishment that you are most
proud of?

Our three
children. They are amazing—even if they weren’t my children, I would still like
them J

What is the problem with writing that was your
greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

When I felt
God calling me to make writing a priority, I was very involved with women’s
ministries at my church. In order to set a block of time aside to write every
day while my children were in school meant that I had to step down from the
things I was doing outside the home. I guess fear was the greatest roadblock
(and there was some guilt, too!). I was afraid people would think that writing
a book was selfish; a way to feed my own ego. I had no guarantee the book I was
writing would be published ... I had no idea if all the time and energy I
poured into it would produce fruit. All I knew was that God was saying, “It’s
time.” For me, it was an act of obedience. And it took a while for me to grasp
that I wasn’t giving up ministry—writing was my ministry!

Tell us about the featured book.

The idea
for The
Dandelion Field was brewing in my mind for about six years before I
even put pen to paper, but every so often the characters would remind me they
were there. I finally couldn’t ignore them anymore and had to tell their story!

Firefighter
Dan Moretti is the kind of man who’s earned the trust of an entire community ...
and then he meets single mom Ginevieve Lightly, who doesn’t trust men at all.
They are so different in terms of their background and experiences, but so
perfect for each other!

Dandelion
Field is a contemporary romance, but it’s also about family and friendship and
sticking together through tough times ... and trusting that God can turn the
pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“OKAY,
GINEVIEVE. What’s bugging you?”

Besides being called Ginevieve?

Gin’s back
teeth snapped together so she wouldn’t be tempted to say the words out loud.
Even though a side dish of sarcasm accompanied every blue plate special Sue
Granger served to her customers, Gin’s boss didn’t tolerate it from the hired
help.

“Nothing.”
Gin knew she sounded like a surly twelve-year-old, but she couldn’t help it. It
had been that kind of morning.

“Right.”
The handle of a wooden spoon found a sensitive spot between Gin’s shoulder
blades and dug in like a cattle prod, herding her toward the back of the diner.
“You got ten thumbs today, and none of them are working right.”

“Sue—”

“Sit.”

Gin sat.

Sue
maneuvered her barrel-shaped frame into the booth and shoved a plastic coffee
carafe across the table.

“When you
hired me, you said you weren’t going to be my mother,” Gin dared to remind her.

“If I
remember correctly, I also told you not to jerk my chain.” Sue’s top lip peeled
back, revealing a row of teeth stained a delicate sepia from years of smoking
filterless Camels.

Gin hadn’t
forgotten. And so far, out of a healthy respect for the woman who signed her
weekly paychecks, she hadn’t touched her chain either.

Facebook: kathrynspringerauthorThank you, Kathryn, for sharing this new book with us today.Get ready for Valentine's Day with a new story of romance and falling in love in Kathryn Springer'sThe Dandelion Field. The handsome firefighter makes a living “coming to the rescue,” but Gin is used to fighting her own battles. Can a woman who doesn't believe in happy endings take a chance on a new beginning?

Celebrate a second chance at love and family with Kathryn by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire

The Dandelion Field

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 15th. Winner will be announced February 16th on the Litfuse blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

I’ve always been driven to write. I wrote my first story
when I was seven, in second grade. First line of that story: “Once there was a
stallion named Betsy.” Grabs you right away, huh. :]

In the 1990s, already enjoying a successful career in
writing nonfiction and marketing, I began learning the craft of fiction. I was
planning to write novels for the secular market, but in June 1998 God clearly
told me He had other plans. He wanted my writing to be about Him. As a result
I’ve been in the Christian market since the sale of my first novel.

If you weren’t an
author, what would be your dream job?

Movie actress. I’d love the work, but I’d hate being
recognized on the street.

Methinks I shall remain an author.

If you could have
lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?

2100. Just to see all the cool gadgets and medical marvels
we’d have by then. Plus, wouldn’t it be interesting to see your descendants?

Yes, it would. When
you start having great grandchildren, you gain a strong sense of what a legacy
descendents are. What place in the United States have you not visited
that you would like to?

I’ve been to every state but two—Alaska
and Maine.
Hitting both of them is on my bucket list.

You’re way ahead of
me. How about a foreign country you hope to visit?

Australia,
matey!

I’ve had a very
longtime desire to visit Australia.
What lesson has the Lord taught you recently?

Simply to relax and trust Him. Easy to say. Hard to do
sometimes.

Tell us about the
featured book.

Pitchin’ A Fit is book 2 in my Southern contemporary Dearing
Family series. The first book in the series is That Dog Won’t Hunt. The Dearing family members are boisterous,
loving, and quirky, down to the family Yorkie (who, naturally, won’t hunt).
This series mixes poignancy and humor as it deals with issues such as past
abuse and forgiveness. You can find purchase links for Pitchin’ A Fit on this page of my website.
(Ebook: $2.99 on all devices. Paper: $12.59, prime on Amazon.)

Here is the back cover copy:

The wedding for Ben Dearing and Christina Day is planned to
be picture perfect, and the boisterous family has gathered for the big event.
What could possibly go wrong?

Christina’s estranged mother, that’s what. The alcoholic,
abusive mother who wasn’t invited. Two days before the ceremony Edna Day
crashes the bridal shower and insists she’s staying in town for the ceremony.
What’s Christina to do? After her abusive childhood, standing up to her parent
calls for strength she’s not sure she possesses. Besides, if she tells her
mother to leave, the woman could get madder than she already is—not to mention
drunk—and shame the Dearing family in front of the whole town.

Edna wastes no time making enemies. Highly opinionated Jess
Dearing is set on running her out of Justus. Ben wants her gone, too. Even Lady
Penelope, the Dearings’ uppity Yorkie, will have nothing to do with her.
Meanwhile Mama Ruth is trying to keep the peace. And feed everybody.

Blending pathos and humor, Pitchin’ a Fit portrays
the constantly shifting emotions between an abusive parent and grown child. How
does a Christian forgive someone who doesn’t seem repentant? What is the
balance between forgiveness and maintaining healthy emotional boundaries? God
is there to guide everyone through this mess of a weekend. But certain people
may have plans of their own.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Getting married wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.

Twenty-three-year-old Christina Day pushed blonde hair out
of her eyes and beamed a smile at the circle of women perched in the Dearings’
living room. They were all older than she. And Christina didn’t know anyone
who’d come to her bridal shower except for her future mother-in-law, Ruth
Dearing, and her three future sisters-in-law, Sarah, Maddy, and Jess, all in
their thirties. Most of the other women attended NewLifeChurch
in Justus, Mississippi, where the Dearing family had
worshipped for years. Christina had gone there only once. And that had been
five months ago in July at the Dearing reunion, on the day the crazy family
ended up posing for their annual picture on a row of old toilets—and Christina
decided she could marry Ben after all.

Not that the first event directly led to the second.

Christina wanted to marry Ben more than anything. From the
first day she met him at work in Dallas
she’d been attracted to him. Ben was far from the stereotypical computer
programmer nerd. His blue eyes could light up a room, and his friendly, boyish
face and laidback attitude charmed everyone. Their wedding would be wonderful
and simple, just the way Christina wanted it. The next two days would produce
memories for a lifetime.

She just had to get through them first.

“You okay?” Ruth Dearing mouthed to Christina from across
the room.

Oh, no. Christina gave her a big nod and smiled. Had some
expression given her away? Mama Ruth was so compassionate. She’d gone to a lot
of trouble to throw this bridal shower in her own home. Today was December
fifth, yet she’d held off putting up a Christmas tree to make room for all the
women. Still, she seemed so aware it may not be the easiest thing for
Christina. Ruth Dearing deserved to see only happiness on the face of her
almost daughter-in-law. Both Mama Ruth and her husband, Syton, had been nothing
but kind to Christina. And she hadn’t always deserved it.

How can readers find
you on the Internet?

I love to interact with my readers on Facebook.
On my website you can sign up
for my newsletter and read the opening chapters of all my books. On Twitter I’m
@brandilyn.Thank you, Brandilyn for sharing this new book with us. You know I've loved everyone of your books. I can't wait until my copy comes. It will go to the top of my to-be-read list.Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Bio: With
fourteen titles released by six publishers, Simon & Schuster author Caryl
McAdoo is excited about her newest historical Christian Texas Romance series
HOPE REBORN (1850/Jan. 9, 2015), book three after VOW UNBROKEN (1832/March
2014) and book two HEARTS STOLEN (1844/September, 2014). The novelist also
edits, paints, and writes new songs. In 2008, she and her high-school-sweetheart
husband Ron moved from the DFW area—home for fifty-five years—to the woods of Red RiverCounty. Caryl counts four children and
fourteen grandsugars life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come
from God. Praying her story gives God glory, she hopes they books will also
minister His love, mercy, and grace to all their readers. Caryl and Ron live in
Clarksville, the county seat, in the far
northeast corner of the LoneStarState.

Welcome back, Caryl. God
has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Indeed He has. After writing for almost thirty years … Suddenly
… I find myself a hybrid author standing on a precipice shared by so many
Christian authors. I believe what’s in store is an amazing surge—a tsunami—of
God’s best blessings given His children. I remarkably have nine new titles
planned for release, and I’m going to say God willing, because everything can
change in a moment when you walk with Him. And there are even more than just
those nine already written or half completed, if He makes more time for me. I
expect His awesome favor this year on those who seek His Kingdom first! I pray that
He’ll let me know if busyness ever places me in jeopardy of getting kicked off
that list!

Tell us a little
about your family.

I share my life with the wisest, most Christ-like man I’ve
ever known. With him, I brought four little McAdoos babies into the world,
three sons and a daughter. All live in north Texas relatively within three hours drive.
All but the youngest have married, doubling their numbers, and given me
fourteen grandsugars. Four of those little boys have lived with O’Pa and me
(Grami) almost twelve years, but this year, two of them left—one to college,
and one to his other grandparents’ because that granddaddy fell and broke his
hip and our boy asked to go so he could be a help to them. So we’re down to two
now and enjoy our little family of four. We’ve found a wonderful Church of God
with a great youth group only about twenty-five minutes away, and toward Paris which is where my
Walmart is. That would be in Northast Texas.

Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Oh, yes, so much in that I need to spend that time writing
and all that goes with that including editing, proofing, cover design,
formatting, marketing, and even building a platform by visiting and being seen
all over every form of social media. With rearing grandsons, and all that
entails, I have very little free time to read. I still carry books with me to
read every time I get a few minutes, but it takes me a long time to finish a
book.

What are you working
on right now?

I love sharing works in progress! Presently, I’m writing
three novels. Book five, DAUGHTERS OF THE HEART, in the historical Christian
Texas Romance series. Debuting September 1, 2015, God willing, it’s the story
of Henry Buckmeyer’s three youngest daughters who are all reaching courting
age.

Also TOKEN OF THE COVENANT, volume three
of my new Biblical fiction series The Generations. It’s planned for release in
July, 2015 and tells the story of Noah’s family on the ark and those early
years after the waters subsided. It follows volume one A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE
ANGELS, with Adam and Eve and their children to Seth, and volume two THEN THE
DELUGE COMES (March 2015) featuring Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah and
his three sons Japheth, Ham, and Shem.

And lastly, AQUIRING
A WIFE, a contemporary Christian Texas Romance that I’m writing as my Thank You
gift to all those who subscribe to my newsletter The Caryler! I give away a
free novel every quarter to let them know how much I appreciate them. This
story is fun because Ron, my high school sweetheart husband of forty-six years,
and I love playing this game called Acquire, and I’m using that game in the
story! It’s for the third quarter gift. I already have the stories written THE
PREACHER’s FAITH to give away first quarter, and SING A NEW SONG the
second—both contemporary Christian Texas Romances.

What outside
interests do you have?

Music, I love to sing – mostly praise and worship, but God
gives me new songs that go along with my children’s books I take into schools,
and He gave me Susannah’s Ballad for VOW UNBROKEN. He gives me scripture songs
to help me with whatever I’m going through and to praise Him.

I also like to paint and garden – not so much the getting
down and in the dirt anymore (pretty hard to get up) but decorating the garden,
adding touches. I love Pinterest for remembering great ideas.

How do you choose
your settings for each book?

In my historical Texas Romances, the Buckmeyers and Baylors
who revisit throughout the series live on the very land my husband and I do.
The McAdoo Ranch is 916 acres and sits five miles South of Clarksville proper
in far Northeast Texas. This way I know all
the hills and creeks and fields and timberland so I never get confused where
they are. On the cover of Hope Reborn, the house in the background
is a recognized historical home in Clarksville
proper that belonged to the Lennox family.
They also used to own the McAdoo ranch many years ago! So that’s a fun
connection! J

If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

If I could choose a historical person who’s a bit not real,
it would be Henry Buckmeyer. I’d really love spending an evening with him. But
if I have to choose an actual person, I think I would choose the statesman and
movie actor Ronald Reagan who I see as such a down to earth, Christian man who
loved America
and his family. By far the best president in my lifetime, he would be fun to
sit down with and visit.

What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Well, the marketing involved to get going, but it wouldn’t
have stopped me. I love people and getting to interact with my readers, but it
is never ending at this point in my career. It seems that my life is about the
next release and all it entails, which is understandable considering I plan on
ten new releases in 2015, God willing. All the books through May are already
written, and I’m working on July, August, and September now. I’ll add three
novels to the historical Texas Romances, four to the contemporary Red River
Romance, and three to the Biblical fiction. I am so excited about what God is
doing. I didn’t ask for a word at the beginning of this year, but He gave me
one anyway. He spoke PROMISE to me. What a year 2015 will be!

What new lesson is
the Lord teaching you right now?

This question ties right into the last one in so much as one
of my favorite verses, Habakkuk 2:3, “For the vision is yet for an appointed
time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it;
because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” I have it marked in my Bible
that He spoke this to me back in the ’80s and I have been holding fast to it
all these years while going through many trials and tribulations, losses, and
broken relationships, but I held fast to the vision. I couldn’t let go. In recent
years, since 2012, I have seen His great blessings – a Simon and Schuster
contract, a new home, a brand new car (didn’t pay for either) and now what He
is accomplishing in 2015 with the books that I’ve written that I pray give Him
glory. I know I am right where He wants me to be. What a great place!

What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

#1 Find a good critique group where peers offer hard
critique you may hate hearing, but that will improve your work

#2 Go to conferences! Even small ones if that’s all you can
afford, they will help! Learn there from the instructors giving their time, and
network with other authors, agents, and editors.

#3 Seek first the Kingdom
of God and His
righteousness THEN all these things will be added unto you!

Tell us about the
featured book.

Hope Reborn was so much fun to write! I loved my heroine being
a successful dime novelist, and fell in love with May Meriwether. She carries
deep, dark secrets that could change her life so drastically. She longs for
true love like she writes about in her books, but at forty-one is convinced
time and her dream has passed her by. An article in the New York newspaper catches her eye as she
reads about two Texas Ranger heroes. She decides they could spark new life to
her writing and immediately plans to leave for the LoneStarState and interview these men as
inspiration for the love interest for her next heroine! She finds way more than
she ever bargained for.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Texas.

May smiled at the Tribune’s headline, “Fillmore Says Pay
Texas Off.” Even the President was thinking about the new state. She returned
her gaze to the line close to the bottom of the front page.

Could it be that more than one Henry Buckmeyer lived in Texas? She seriously
doubted it, and that settled the matter. She was going west.

“Chester,
would you come in here, please?”

While she waited, she reread the article that lacked the prominence
due—in her estimation. It hadn’t changed. The man’s name stared back at her in
bold type.

“Chester.”
She hated raising her voice. “Where are you?”

For a minute more, she tapped her nails in a rapid
syncopation—little finger to index—on her desk. Finally, she stood. Where had
he gotten off to? And what could he be doing?

Before she reached it, her parlor’s left side door opened.
“Did you need me, ma’am?”

“Yes, I wanted to know if you read that article I gave you
about the exploits of those two Texas Rangers.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well? What did you think?”

“Interesting. Might be a novel there, but really, ma’am, not
your sort of story. Is it?”

“Well, I don’t see why not.” She headed back to her chair
with the man following then flopped into it. “Oh, Chester.” She massaged her face, thumbs on
her jaws.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“I’m so sick of snooty-prude ladies doing whatever they can
think of to trick stuffy-shirted men into marriage.” Her hands went high into
the air in defiance then relaxed into a stretch. “Really. I can’t write
another.”

He looked around the rather large room; it tickled her that
the New York
mansion’s grandeur still impressed him, always had. “But those stories do pay
the bills.”

She hated that everything always boiled down to gold coins.
“Ah, but certainly, there’s got to be more to life than money.”

“Well said, if you have plenty.”

The last thing she wanted this evening was to get into a
debate over dollars. Besides, she didn’t like to think of herself as having
plenty, as he put it.

“Fine. I’ll capitulate. Life requires filthy lucre. There.
Now if you’re happy, how about you remove a handsome amount out of the safe for
me? I’m going to Texas.”

“What?” He grinned, and his snowy teeth glistened as white
as any of her heroes’. “No. Millicent May. Texas is unruly, primitive. And there are
wild Indians. You cannot.”

She glared. “Do not call me that, you know better.” Clearing
her throat, she smoothed her hair, pushing up a curl, and willed herself calm
and reserved. “And do not presume to tell me what I can—or cannot—do. Please.”

He lifted his brows and tucked his chin a bit, but only
looked at her, didn’t speak.

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Monday, January 26, 2015

I try to make my characters as unlike me as possible. I have
OCD tendencies, so I purposely allow my characters to be impulsive, untidy, or
make spur-of-the-moment decisions without planning. Naturally, the traits I
give each character must match the story-line.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

During the American Christian Fiction Writer’s annual
conference, attendees are allowed to dress as their genre for the first evening
meal. Since I write romantic suspense, I was looking for a costume to reflect
each aspect. I found a cute little hat with a veil that portrayed the romantic
side. But how could I add the suspense part? It was close to Halloween and I found
a rubber ax surrounded by blood to insert into a slit in a T-shirt. I wore
the hat and the ax and received many accolades and several odd looks. I
didn’t realize that I’d have to wear the getup for the rest of the evening. I
felt very quirky attending the late evening workshops with an ax sticking
out of my chest. Won’t do that again!

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

Although I’ve always had a creative side, it took me a long
time to conquer my fear of writing. I had a teacher in high school who made us
read our essays in front of the class, then she would critique them. That
killed any passion I had for writing. Thirty years later, I purchased a word processor

and poured out my first romantic suspense. (It has not been published, but one day I will revise the novel and submit it.) I’ve been writing ever since.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My reading choices have changed over the years. I used to
only read romances, but now I find straight romance too tame. I usually choose
suspense, romantic suspense, or police procedurals.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

We live in the country, 30 miles from the big city. When I
need to take a break, I sit on our back porch, and gaze over the field to the
hills beyond our fence. Listen to the birds, the doves, the murmuring water splashing
over the waterfall. Breathe deep and thank the Lord we have this place of solitude.

Sounds wonderful. How do you choose
your characters’ names?

I keep a list of names I like, then when I’m planning a new
book, I search through the list and choose names that fit the characters. I
like unusual names, but stay away from ‘soap opera’ types, or names that are
hard to pronounce. I also make sure that I don’t have too many names that begin
with the same letter.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question. At first I was
going to say my children, but in reality I had very little to do with their personalities.
I only provided an environment where they could flourish. So, I’ll go back to
my career. I worked with students with special needs for 25 years, from
three-year-olds, to high school students. I’d like to think that I had a
positive influence over all their lives, but what I’m most proud of is teaching
slow leaning students to read! I remember one particular young boy who had been
retained and told me he was dumb and would never learn to read. After weeks
and weeks of working on phonics and figuring out what the words said – I
purposely did not say we were ‘reading,’ he stopped and looked at me and said,
“Hey, Mrs. Goree, I’m reading!” I often wonder what those kids are doing now.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d like to be an eagle. Soar over the landscape, take in
the sights and sounds of God’s glorious creation.

What is your favorite
food?

I was born in South Africa
where there is a large population of people from India. So along with British foods,
I grew up eating Indian curry dishes. Love mutton curry.

What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My problem is time management. I am a great procrastinator,
and if I don’t have a deadline, I can find a dozen things to keep me occupied
instead of writing. I have not overcome my problem. Anyone have any ideas?

Tell us about the
featured book? Weep in the night.

After three years in the witness protection program, Sadie
Malone’s life in Texas
is bland and humdrum—until she meets a new co-worker. Bowen Boudine ignites a
flame in Sadie’s long-dormant heart, but when she discovers he knows her true
identity, she attempts to flee. He thwarts her escape and reveals the reason
he’s been sent to locate her.

Bowen, a seasoned operative with International Retrieval
Organization takes his job escorting Sadie back to California seriously, but quickly finds he’s
falling for her. Can he maintain a professional relationship while he protects
her from the crime boss her testimony helped to convict?

Please give us the
first page of the book.

She ran her finger across the white plastic name tag. Blue
letters spelled out Debra Johnson, but that wasn’t her name.

The bulb above the sink crackled and died. She hated the
dark. Backing out of the bathroom, she leaned against the wall and flipped on
the hall light. Shadows scuttled away, but left a trace of unease in her gut.

Tears blurred her vision as she pinned the name tag on her shirt.
It took two attempts to snag the pin in place. Get a grip, Sadie. You’re safe.

Although she’d been in the Federal Witness Protection
Program for almost three years, she still thought of herself as Sadie Malone.
Sometimes the past latched onto her soul and yanked her down to the depths of
grief like a meteor plummeting to earth. Today would have been her husband’s
thirty-seventh birthday. She closed her eyes. The faces of Aaron, and Hannah,
her four-year-old daughter, floated in and out of a gray mist. Gone. They were
both gone.

A shiver took control of Sadie’s body as ice crystals formed
in her heart.

She would not succumb to despair.

I can't wait for my copy to come. How can readers find
you on the Internet?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Robin (NC) is the winner of Once a Marineby Loree Lough.Abigail (NC) is the winner of Brentwood's Ward byMichelle Griep.Loraine (TX) is the winner of The Color of Sorrow Isn't Blueby Sharon K Souza.Linda (IL) is the winner of the Ebook The Right Ingredientsby Nancy Shew Bolton.Angela (KY) is the winner of When Dawn Breaksby Jennifer Slattery.If you won a book and you like it, consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Dear Readers, I’m reading A Stitch in Crime right now. If you love
a mystery filled with quirky characters, you’ll love this book. All the quilts
and antiques add a special spark to the setting, too.

Bio: Cathy Elliott is a full-time writer in northern California whose cozy
mysteries reflect her personal interests from quilting and antique collecting to
playing her fiddle with friends. She also leads music at church and enjoys time
with her grandchildren. Cathy’s previous plot-twisting works include A Vase of Mistaken Identity and Medals in the Attic.

Welcome, Cathy. Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.

Though my
characters are a mix of many people, real and imaginary, there could be a bit
of me in each one - but often enhanced. For instance, I sometimes
procrastinate. But my protagonist, Thea James, is a chronic procrastinator in every
way. She’s like Scarlet O’Hara. She’ll do it tomorrow.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever
done?

I once answered
the phone at work with my bad Swedish accent, attempting a joke on a colleague.
“Yah, shure … und kin I help yer?” But it wasn’t my friend on the line; it was
a patron calling for assistance. What could I do? I couldn’t tell her I was
goofing off.

I made a madcap
decision and stayed in character, continuing my “Hans and Franz” show. “Yah,
yah. I tink yer neetin’ duh reference desk. Yust holt on dere, und I’ll
transfer yer call.” Acting as normal as possible, I transferred the call amid
incredulous stares from nearby staff. Then upon hang up, I fell apart laughing
with embarrassment and relief. The incident would become break-room fodder by
the end of the day.

When I was in college, I worked the
college switchboard. I was on duty when the tail end of a hurricane was fast
approaching our campus. After hours of answering one frantic call from a parent
after another, I went to the cafeteria for supper. I bowed my head to bless the
food, and without thinking said, “Hello, OuachitaBaptistCollege.” I’m sure even
God laughed right along with my roommates. When did you first discover that you
were a writer?

The day author
Cindy Martinusen Coloma read a chapter I had written and told me I’d better get
myself to the Mt.Hermon conference and
submit a proposal. ‘Til then, only my mother admired my written words.

In truth, I do
seem to work very well under pressure. But when life overwhelms, the old song
line, “One day at a time, sweet Jesus” works for me. I can take it slower and
trust it will all get done because He is my Rest.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Choosing names
is all joy for me. Thea’s name came years after watching Middlemarch, adapted
for TV by the BBC. I remembered the character of Dorothea Brooke, her sense of
justice, her kindness, and her quest for meaningful work. Rosamund, her sister,
called her “Doro” but I preferred Thea for my beloved protagonist. In A
Stitch in Crime, her proper name is Dorothea. My story reveals she was
named after the Middlemarch character, much admired by Thea’s mum.

In addition, I
used the name Rosie (from sister, Rosamund) as Thea’s sister, too. It seemed
only right that Mum would name both her girls after these characters. In Middlemarch,
Rosamund is the sister with the heightened sense of fun. Rather like Thea’s
nutty sister, Rosie.

What is the accomplishment that you are
most proud of?

Birthing a baby
or birthing a book? Hmm. It’s no contest. Raising my children takes the prize.
Though I’m mighty proud of my books, too.

If you were an animal, which one would
you be, and why?

Like many girls,
I grew up a horse lover, reading Walter Farley, copying the Wesley Dennis
illustrations in Marguerite Henry’s Misty books, and riding whenever I could.
So … perhaps I’d be a horse. A gentle mare that carries children and adults
alike with a smooth gait; one that loves to run and work and graze in green
fields. I’d be a high-stepper and prance with pride and carry myself with
elegance. Maybe a Palomino … so I could see if blondes really do have more fun!

What is your favorite food?

Oh, dear. I’m
afraid it’s ice cream. But I don’t keep it in the house; it’s too much of a
favorite.

What is the problem with writing that was
your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Lack of
confidence. I’ve pushed a couple of great projects to the side because I’ve let
fear of failure overtake me. But when I look back and see the hard things I’ve
accomplished on this writing journey, the successes that have come with
perseverance, confidence rushes back. Then, I’m anxious to meet the challenge
and prove to myself that I can do it!

Tell us about the featured book.

Thea James
thought working as co-chair for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza
would be a natural extension of her antique business. But while organizing the
busy week’s premiere events would make anyone frayed, she doesn’t expect a
complete unraveling!

At the opening soirée, local matriarch
Mary-Alice Wentworth is knocked unconscious and robbed of her diamond brooch.
Soon a rare quilt—the main attraction and a rumored key to great riches—goes
missing. Those who signed up to help Thea are strangely no help at all. What
more could possibly happen?

Amid a cast of
colorful characters and a tight schedule of garden galas, tea parties, and
televised socials, everything is falling apart at the seams – and nothing is
quite what it seems. Can Thea sew everything back together?

“...Fans will
want to add this gem to their keeper shelf.”
RT 4-Star Review - November 12, 2014

Please give us the first page of the
book.

Perhaps if she
simply avoided eye contact.

Thea James
turned her back on the partygoers, paying attention to the dessert buffet
instead. The Quilt-Without-Guilt Guild had surpassed their Christmas potluck
standard. Among a bounty of petite cakes, cookies, puffs, and bars, Thea found
her own offering, a plate of blueberry tartlets. They appeared untouched.
Strange. She pulled them to the front of the culinary display.

“Thea! Why are
you hiding out in the desserts when I need your help?” The familiar voice of
fellow guild member, Heather Ann Brewster, hinted at desperation.

“What?” Heather
Ann viewed the diminutive dessert, gave a small shudder, and then had the grace
to look apologetic. “Ah ... no, thanks. I haven’t browsed the appetizers yet.
Anyway, I can’t think about food now. I’m too upset.”

Thea shoved her
reluctance aside. “What seems to be the problem, Heather Ann?” This time.

“You know the
publicity banner we had made? The one advertising the quilt show next weekend?
The one supposed to be hanging over the entrance to OldTown?”

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com